1,2-Hexanediol
1,2-Hexanediol (a water-holding ingredient and preservative booster)
Holds water in skin and helps keep products fresh.
A water-holding ingredient common in Korean skincare that also helps preserve the product by making other preservatives work better.
In three sentences
1,2-Hexanediol pulls water from the air into your outer skin layer, making skin feel soft and smooth. It also helps other preservatives work better, so less of them is needed in the formula. It is in almost every Korean beauty product because it does both jobs well and costs very little.
What it does
It is like a sponge that soaks up water and holds it on your skin.
1,2-Hexanediol is a water-holding ingredient that sits on skin and pulls moisture from the air into the outer layer. This hydrating effect makes skin feel softer and smoother. The ingredient also works as a preservative booster, meaning it helps other preservatives work better so formulas stay fresh with lower preservative levels overall.
Studies report that skin irritation from 1,2-alkanediols rises with chain length, so 1,2-hexanediol is milder than its longer-chain relatives. The ingredient appears in nearly every Korean beauty product, often in the top five ingredients, which shows it is widely trusted for both hydration and preservation.
Typical concentration
Not on the preservative lists in Korea or the EU. Used as a moisturizer that also helps preservation, usually 1 to 2%.
Who should be careful
No specific cautions were found in the reference sources. People with very sensitive skin should patch-test any new product first, since all skin care ingredients can occasionally cause irritation in some individuals.
Pairing
Pairs well with
Found in
- Zero Pore Pad 2.0 (70ea)MEDICUBE
FAQ
- Is 1,2-Hexanediol a preservative or a water-holding ingredient?
- It does both jobs. It holds water in skin, and it also makes other preservatives work better so products stay fresh. This is why Korean brands put it in most products.
- Will this ingredient irritate my skin?
- Studies report that skin irritation from 1,2-alkanediols rises with chain length, so 1,2-hexanediol is milder than its longer-chain relatives. Most people do fine with it since it is in nearly all Korean beauty products. If your skin is very sensitive, test the product on a small patch first.
- Why is 1,2-Hexanediol in so many Korean beauty products?
- It costs very little, does two jobs well, and has a long safety record. This makes it the go-to choice in the Korean beauty industry for toners, essences and serums.
Regulatory status
| Country | Authority | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Korea | MFDS | Allowed |
| United States | FDA | Not evaluated |
| Japan | MHLW | Not evaluated |
Status in one country says nothing about another.
Sources
- Studies report that skin irritation from 1,2-alkanediols rises with chain length, so 1,2-hexanediol is milder than its longer-chain relatives.The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediols. (PubMed, 2011, lab tests, not on people)